Luggage bag



y 1937. 'r. s. CART LUGGAGE BAG Filed June 29, 1,955

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 BY I ,MV ,Z/ I 7ATTORNEY July 13, 1937. T. s. CART 2,086,895

' LUGGAGE BAG I v Filed June 29, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented July 13, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LUGGAGE- BAG Theodore S. Cart, Princeton, N. J., assignor to Atlantic Products Corporation, Trenton, N. J.,

a corporation of New Application June 29,

' Claims.

This invention relates to luggage bags, and

pertains particularly to the folding wardrobe type of bag. Such bags are characterized generally by the provision of a flat, flexible 5 container of sufficient length to accommodate garments without folding, said container being usually provided with handles at its ends, so that the bag may be folded and carried in a generally U-shaped conformation.

Such bags have become increasingly popular for travel by automobile because they can be laid flat on a seat, or can be suspended from a hook without folding, or they can be folded and stowed in the usual manner. Because of the flexibility of the bag, garments are much less subject to creasing and wrinkling than in bags of ordinary construction.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a construction for such bags which will improve their appearance when folded by causing them to assume a regular form, but without sacrificing substantially the inherent flexibility of this type of bag.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear hereinafter.

A preferred embodiment of the invention selected for purposes of illustration is, shown in the accompanying drawings, in which,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the folded ba part of the end being broken away.

b Figure 2 ,is a perspective view of the unfolded Figure 3 is a perspective view of the supporting framework in folded position, and

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the supporting framework in unfolded position.

Referring to the drawings, the bag comprises inner and outer panels I and 2 respectively, substantially rectangular in shape, said panels being connected along their corresponding end and side edges to a web or gusset 3 which forms the ends and sides of the bag when unfolded. The said panels and web may be made of any desired flexible material of good durability such as canvas or leather, for example. 4

The inner panel I is so constructed as to provide convenient access to the interior of the ba and is cut to provide a flap 4, the edges of which are secured to the adjacent edges of the panel by slide fasteners 5 and B. The free end of the flap 4 extends far enough to protrude beneath the apron I and may be held in place with snap fasteners 8, if desired.

The structure of the bag thus far described is limp, being without stiffening except such as is,

Jersey 1935, Serial No. 29,090

inherent in the materials themselves and in any lining material which may be used in connection therewith. In order to cause the bag to assume a regular form when folded, a framework, preferably semi-rigid, is provided, which supports and shapes the ends of the bag, defines the lines of fold, and provides-anchoring means for the handles.

The said framework is illustrated in Figures 3 and 4, and comprises two substantially U-shaped frames II and I2, each frame comprising two spaced U-shaped members l3 and I4 and each frame being preferably formed from a single piece of wire. The members l3 and M are held in spaced relation by straps l5 arranged at the base of the U, and'are connected at the ends of the legs of the U by inclined members l6. Frames II and i2 are hingedly connected to a pair of links II also made of wire. Members I3 and M at one end of the bag also have secured thereto a U-shaped bracket l8 which may be used to support coat hangers as illustrated in Figure 2. A handle I9 is attached to each end of the bag, and these handles may be conveniently riveted to the straps i5 which provide a firm aii'chorage therefor.

It will be noted that since the framework is made of wire, and since the members l3 and M are connected only at the base of the U and at the ends of the legs, the framework is more or less flexible and able to yield to stresses arising in folding a packed bag. A framework of this type having considerable flexibility in itself does not reduce to any considerable degree the fiexibility of the bag as a whole, nor its ability to conform itself generally to the shape of the contents. It does, however, preserve a certain regularity of shape both when the bag is folded and unfolded and enhances greatly the-appearance of the bag. Furthermore, the links H, being hinged to the end frames, define thelines of fold, and form a flat bottom for the bag when folded.

It will be understood that the invention may be variously modified and embodied within the scope of the subjoined claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A luggage bag comprising, in combination, an inner panel and an outer panel, both substantially rectangular in shape and adapted to be folded about spaced lines of fold into a generally U-shaped configuration, a gusset connected to corresponding side and end edges of said panels, a substantially U-shaped framework located in each end of the bag, said frameworks being formed of wire, and each comprising two parallel spaced U-shaped wire members connected only at the central part of the base of the U and at the ends of the legs thereof, at the lines of fold, thereby presenting semirigid frameworks having flexible and unsupported corners joining the base and sides.

2. A luggage bag comprising, in combination, an inner panel and an outer panel, both substantially rectangular in shape and adapted to be folded about spaced lines of fold into a generally U-shaped configuration, a gusset connected to corresponding side and end edges of said panels, a substantially U-shaped semi-rigid framework located in each end of the bag, said frameworks being formed 01' wire, and each comprising two parallel spaced U-shaped wire members connected together only at the central portion of the base of the U and at the ends of the legs thereof, the connection between the ends of the frames being inclined and terminating in a U- shaped loop adjacent the outer panel at the lines of fold, and a pair of wire links extending across the bottom of the bag and hingedly connected to the u-shaped loops of opposed frames.

3. A lugg e bag comprising, in combination, an inner panel and an outer panel, both substantially rectangular in shape and adapted to be folded about spaced lines of fold into a generally U-shaped conformation, a gusset connected to corresponding side and end edges of said panels, a substantially U-shaped framework located in each end of the bag, said frameworks being formed of wire, and each comprising two parallel spaced U-shaped members formed from a single strand of wire connected only centrally at the base of the U and at the ends of the legs thereof at the lines of fold, thereby "presenting semi-rigid frames having flexible and unsupported corners joining the base and sides.

ly U-shaped configuration; a gusset connected to a corresponding side and-end edges of said panel, a substantially U-shaped framework located in each end of the bag, said framework being,

formed of wire and each comprising two parallel U-shaped members connected only at the central portion of the base of the U and at the ends of the legs thereof at the lines of fold, thereby presenting semi-rigid frames having flexible and unsupported corners joining the base and sides, the connection at the central portion of the base of the U comprising a pair of spaced straps, the sides and base portion of said frames from the spaced straps toward the respective ends of the frames being formed 'of a single strand of wire.

5. A luggage bag comprising, in combination, an inner panel and an outer panel, both substantially rectangular in shape, and adapted to be folded about spaced lines of fold into a generally U-shaped configuration, a gusset connected to corresponding side and end edges of said panels, a substantially U-shaped framework located in each end vof the bag, said frameworks being formed of wire, and each comprising two parallel spaced U-shaped wire members connectedonly at the central portion of the base of the U and at the ends of the legs thereof at the lines of fold, thereby presenting semi-rigid frames having flexible and unsupported corners joining the base and sides, the connection at the base of the U "comprising a pair of spaced straps, and a handle at each end of the bag anchored to said straps.

THEODORE S. ,CART. 

